Shehbaz Sharif warns of serious fallout after India suspends Indus Waters Treaty

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, warning of serious fallout from what he called a "unilateral and illegal" move. The treaty, signed in 1960 with the World Bank as guarantor, governs water sharing between the two countries.

India suspended the treaty following a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, which killed 26 people. India blamed Pakistan-based militants for the attack and initiated several retaliatory measures, including the treaty suspension.

At the United Nations conference on glaciers in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, India’s Minister of State for Environment, Kirti Vardhan Singh, rejected Pakistan’s accusations, calling them "baseless and politically motivated." Singh emphasized that fundamental changes since the treaty’s signing require reassessment of its obligations and accused Pakistan of violating the treaty by supporting cross-border terrorism.

Sharif echoed concerns voiced by Pakistan’s military leadership, asserting that Pakistan would not allow India to cross the line by holding the treaty in abeyance, which he said endangers millions of lives for narrow political gains.

The suspension has also impacted aviation, with Pakistan closing its airspace to Indian aircraft from April 24 to May 23, causing significant losses to the Indian aviation sector, estimated at around 7,000 crore in 2025.

Key quotes:
Shehbaz Sharif: "India had taken a 'unilateral and illegal' step in suspending the treaty and warned of serious consequences."
Kirti Vardhan Singh: "It is an undeniable fact that there have been fundamental changes in circumstances since the Indus Waters Treaty was signed, which requires a reassessment of the treaty's obligations."

The dispute highlights the fragile nature of bilateral agreements amid ongoing geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan, with water security and regional stability at stake.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it a 'unilateral and illegal' move with serious consequences. India cited the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack by Pakistan-based militants as justification, while both sides accused each other of treaty violations amid escalating tensions.